JAPANESE NON-PAPER ON SE ASIA MIDDLE EAST PEACE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TOKYO 002583 SIPDIS DEPT FOR EAP/J AND NEA/IPA E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/05/2019 TAGS: PREL KPAL IS SN MY ID JA SUBJECT: JAPANESE NON-PAPER ON SE ASIA MIDDLE EAST PEACE PROCESS SUPPORT REF: TOKYO 2324 Classified By: DCM James P. Zumwalt per reason 1.4(b) and (d). ¶1. (C) During a November 4 meeting with Embassy Poloff, MOFA First Middle East Principal Deputy Director Kazutaka Kawahara provided an English-language copy of a non-paper (See paragraph 5) explaining current MOFA internal discussion on the form and substance of its proposed Southeast Asia Middle East Peace Process Supporters group. Kawahara said that MOFA is presently working on plans for the group. ¶2. (C) Karawara recalled that during GOJ Special Middle East Envoy Iimura,s September visit to Indonesia, then-Foreign Minister Hassan had responded positively to the GOJ,s concept. In the wake of Indonesia,s mid-October Cabinet shuffle, Iimura hopes to meet soon with new Indonesia Foreign Minister Marti Natalegawa to gauge his views on the GOJ plan. According to Kawahara, if Natalegawa,s response is positive, the GOJ looks to move ahead with the plan, eying an initial introductory meeting in early 2010. He stressed that the GOJ recognizes that the Peace Process itself had not yet restarted and that progress may continue to be slow. That said, the GOJ is moving very carefully and is willing to defer action if that would be more helpful. ¶4. (C) Turning to the text of the non-paper itself, Kawahara described it as a "discussion paper," adding that while the content was fluid and subject to change, it represented current MOFA thinking on the project. For example, although the non-paper discusses a possible ministerial-level meeting, Kawahara said that the level of participation and modalities of both an initial meeting and any subsequent meetings of the proposed group remain undecided. For example, he suggested that "senior officials" rather than ministers might be the participants. ¶5. (U) Begin text of MOFA discussion paper. For Discussion Only: Initiative to Establish a Middle East Peace Supporting Group in East Asia Objectives: In view of the critical importance of establishing a just and lasting peace in the Middle East, Japan and Indonesia will collaborate with like-minded East Asian countries. A) To mobilize their support for the Middle East peace process based on the two-state solution, while the U.S. initiative enters the critical phase. B) To strengthen their efforts to assist the Palestinians in establishing a viable Palestinian state and, where possible, to implement projects jointly. C) To develop economic cooperation between the parties directly involved in the peace process and the countries in East Asia, and to help confidence-building among the parties concerned. Overview of the Initiative To realize the above mentioned objectives, details of the concrete measures will be explored through consultations between Japan and Indonesia to be presented to other like-minded East Asian countries. Ministerial Conference In order to achieve the above-mentioned objectives, a ministerial conference will be organized. A brief concept of the ministerial conference is described below. A) The participants will be countries which wish to contribute to the Middle East peace process and which have been providing substantial assistance to the Palestinians. They will discuss how to carry out these objectives more effectively. B) Japan and Indonesia will co-chair the conference to which the Palestinian Authority, Israel, Syria, Lebanon, the United States and other like-minded East Asian countries, including Singapore and Malaysia, will be invited. C) The conference will be an occasion for them to show their determination to support the peace process to the international community as a whole. TOKYO 00002583 002 OF 002 D) Another main agenda will be to consolidate and strengthen assistance to the Palestinians in their efforts to build a viable Palestinian state which is a key factor to achieve the two-state solution. Making the best use of the experiences of the previous efforts made by Japan and East Asia, including the NAASP Ministerial Conference on capacity building for Palestine, the participating countries will discuss how to collaborate to help the Palestinians develop their economy. In this regard, the possibility of dispatch of joint project formation missions can be discussed. E) The participating countries will be invited to make concrete pledges to assist Palestinians. F) The time and venue of the first conference will be decided through consultations between Japan and Indonesia. G) Preferably the follow-up conferences will be organized from time to time as a forum where concrete measures to support the peace process, to assist Palestinians, nation building efforts and to develop economic cooperation measures between East Asia and the Middle East will be discussed. H) Whether or not to proceed with this initiative, and when to proceed will be decided, taking into consideration the situation regarding the Middle East peace process. Track II Conference Besides the ministerial conferences, a Track II process will be launched with the participation of academics and business figures of the above-mentioned parties. The ways and means to develop the Palestinian economy, to strengthen the economic ties between the two regions, and to build confidence will be discussed. Government officials of those countries will also participate in the process. Announcement The initiative will be announced at an appropriate timing. End text of MOFA discussion paper. ROOS